Author Archives: Dave Daniels

The Flying Monk Malmesbury 10k

The ninth running of the Flying Monk Malmesbury 10k took place on Sunday 26th August.  Held as part of the carnival celebrations the race takes part over an undulating course with approximately 1.5 k off road along the Old Fosse Way with the rest being run on the quiet country roads surrounding Malmesbury.  For those that didn’t leave their house on Sunday this was run during heavy rain and was very wet.

First in for RSE was Dave Witnall in a time of 44:24.  He was followed by;

Steve Phelps – 47:29

Eleanor Taylor – 49:32

Helen Berry – 53:34

Kate Bartram – 1:04:09

Kay Thompson – 1:13:47 and in

a new PB

Making his debut as a race pacer and tasked with completing the race in 75 minutes Kevin Joynes-Creed completed the race in a very accurate time of 74:55.

Winchcombe Hill Climb 10k

The Winchcombe Hill Climb 10k race also took place on Sunday 26th August.  This was a multi-terrain route that climbed over 650 feet to the Neolithic long barrow Belas Knap with spectacular views.  Again a race that was completed during driving rain and wind.  Not only did all finishers get a medal they also got a pound of sausages.  RSE’s Kate Potter completed the course in 1:12:14 followed immediately by Jenny Hoffman in a time of 1:12:15.

Severn Bridge 10k

The Severn Bridge 10k run on Sunday 26th August was in its second year and took place on the same day as the Severn Bridge half marathon which was voted best new race in the Runners World Personal vote awards.  It commences close to junction 2 of the M48, crossing over the bridge on the closed motorway to junction 1 and then returns via the upstream pedestrian access way of the bridge into the event village.  The race is therefore completed almost entirely on the bridge itself.

RSE’s Kate Sedgewick and Jane O’Dell completed the race in terrible weather in 1:06:02 and 1:06:36 respectively.

Great running from everyone who ran the races on Sunday in very difficult conditions.

Cirencester Park Run

Sharon Smith – 24:16 in a time that ranks her first in the Cirencester age group league and at National Class Level.

Steve Sandercock – 27:12

George Rackley – 28:50

Caroline Sandercock – 34:56

Kay Thompson – 39:55

Seaton Park Run

Cathy Steer – 27:44 and new a PB

Swindon Park Run

Martyn Joyce – 20:59

Sarah Reynolds – 24:17

Westonbirt 10k

On Friday 17th August RSE was represented well at the Westonbirt 10 k race.  The event was based at the beautiful Westonbirt House where competitors took on the accurately measured 2 lap course, finishing directly in front of the stunning stately home.

First in was Steve Phelps in a PB time of 46:43.  He was followed by;

Sharon Smith – 48:36

Helen Berry – 53:50

Sandie Wood – 56:11

Richard Marshall – 57:42

Tracy Webster – 1:02:11

Kate Potter – 1:03:03

George Rackley – 1:03:30

Kate Bartram – 1:03:42 which was her first 10k race without stopping. Great effort

Amanda Haines – 1:04:04 and a new PB

Kay Thompson – 1:15:53 and a new PB

Not only great running from everyone but as always great support from other club members who attended the event.

Hangman Ultra

The third annual Hangman Ultra took place on Saturday August 18th 2018 and involved a 54km run through the  beautiful Hampshire countryside.  The race commenced at Longparish near Andover and went to Coombe Gibbett before heading back to Longparish.  Henry Church represented team RSE at this event coming home in 7th place in a time of 5:11:00 which was 4 minutes than his previous effort 2 years ago.  Great effort.

Hullavington 10k

The Hullavington 10K which was run on Sunday 19th August was a road race and fun run over a gently undulating and picturesque course which started and finished in the village of Hullavington. The Race Headquarters were at the Bagless Tea Room and so all runners got a free cake along with their finishers medal after they crossed the line at the Hullavington Arms.

Steve Sandercock – 55:31

Sarah Page – 55:34 and a new PB

Sandie Wood – 56:30

Tracey Webster – 1:04:22

Kay Thompson – 1:14:50 and a new PB

Caroline Joynes-Creed – 1:15:56

Kevin Joynes-Creed – 1:15:56

Great running from everyone.

Jayson Lee 10k Memorial Race

The Jayson Lee 10k memorial race took place at Jersey on Sunday 19th August. This year was an extra special event as it was the 10th anniversary of the run, organised by Jayson’s family and takes place in order to raise money for the Jersey Hospice Care.  The race itself is an undulating road race around coastal roads and quiet country lanes.

Vicki Mason had the rare opportunity to run the race with her husband and completed the run in 54:48.

Badminton Tough Mudder

The Badminton Tough Mudder event returned to the beautiful countryside of Badminton for a second year on Sunday 19th August. Tough Mudder South West 2018 featured a brand new course and a selection of new for 2018 obstacles.   The race was a winning combination of 20 + awesome obstacles over a 10 mile course involving gloopy mud and trail running designed to push the runners beyond their limits and all in one day.

Nadine Brown and Ollie Hazel completed the event with 2 other runners as part of a 4 person team.  Ryo Taylor also completed the event with another runner.

Two Tunnels City Ticket Half Marathon 

The 1 lap looped Two Tunnels Half Marathon course took in the the best of the countryside views along the Limpley Stoke Valley as well as beautiful city centre running through the heart of Bath along the footpaths and riverside trails.

Andy Masser completed the race in an unofficial time of 1:45:48.

Mentioned in Dispatches

There have been a number of runners who have achieved PBs in races this week but I think special mention must be given to Kate Potter who achieved 1st place in the V70 category at the Westonbirt 10k.  Great effort.

Cirencester Park Run

Kevin Joynes-Creed – 25:08

Wayne Edgington – 26:32

Jon Collins – 30:21

Caroline Joynes-Creed – 35:49

Caroline Sandercock – 36:26

Rory Brown – faster than Nadine

Nadine Brown – 39:20

Jersey Park Run

Vicki Mason – 27:05

Swindon Park Run

Ollie Hazel – 19:25

Martyn Joyce – 21:16

Tenby 10k

The Tenby 10k race took place on Sunday 29th July starting and ending in the picturesque town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.  Becky Heal represented RSE in Wales completing the race in 1:41:13 with a big smile.  Well done.

Northumberland Coastal Run 

The Northumberland Coastal Run on Sunday 29th July was a multi terrain event that starting on the sand in Beadnell Harbour, then onto road, sand, trail, road and finishing on the sand at Almouth Estuary.  The race is a 13.2 mile course and runners  couldn’t be blamed for having second thoughts about entering the event when it states on the website,”This is NOT a fun run, it is a challenging and unmarked course”.  Add that to the rain and head winds of 40 mph Teresa Hazlewood did very well to complete the course in 2:05:57.  Great effort.

Relay for Life Cirencester

Relay for life is a team fundraising challenge bringing communities together to beat cancer.  Teams of family and friends fundraise for life-saving cancer research by joining in a 24 hr celebration to run and walk around a 400 metre track on the Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney.

This weekend brought a dramatic change to the weather resulting in lots of wind, rain and broken gazebos.  Sallie Clatworthy not only had to endure the weather, but sleep deprevation and a gig from Plucking Difference whilst completing more than her share of laps.  Great effort from Sallie and everyone else who took part and raised in the region of £100,000.

Cirencester Park Run

Steve Phelps – 23:17

Martin Sheriff – 25:43

Jon Collins – 26:18

Jessica Osbourne – 27:37

Swindon Park Run

Martyn Joyce – 28:17

Gloucester 5K

The Gloucester 5k race took place on Thursday 19th July.  This is a flat single lap race that finished outside the Beacon Inn in the village of Haresfield.  Four members of RSE took part in the race with Mark Manley leading the charge in 21:31 and coming 6th in the MV50 category.

He was followed by ;

Sharon Smith – 23:42 and 2nd in the LV60 category

Elaine Chapman – 24:46 and 6th in the SL category

Sandie Wood – 27:52 and 4th in the LV50 category

This was also a Gloucester AAA county race with Sharon and Sandie getting gold medals, Elaine getting a silver and Mark getting a bronze medal in their relevant categories.  Great efforts well done.

Bourton 1 Mile Challenge

This is exactly what it says on the tin, a 1 mile fast flat road race that finishes in the centre of picturesque Bourton -on-the-Water.  This race is part of the Gloucestershire Road Race Series and is also the one mile Gloucestershire Championship race.  With RSE providing 11 runners in the field of 165 we were well represented.  First home for RSE was Ben Chapman – 5:53 which was a PB.  He was followed by;

Mark Manley – 5:54 – PB

Steve Phelps – 6:18 – PB

Teresa Hazlewood – 6:32 – PB

Norm Lever – 6:39

Rosie Oates – 6:48

Rich Taylor – 6:50

Elaine Chapman – 7:00

Sharon Smith – 7:19 – 1st LV65

Sandie Wood – 8:18

Kay Thompson – 10:13 – PB

Pretty Muddy Exeter 5k

Before

After

Pretty Muddy events are part of the Race For Life events for Cancer Research UK.

The Pretty Muddy Exeter isn’t like any other fundraising event.  It is a muddy obstacle course that women of any ability can climb over, crawl under and charge through. It takes place on the paths and fields around the showground and is on a mixed terrain of tarmac and grass.

RSE was represented by Libby Saunders with a guest appearance of Mumma Woo.  Looks like a lot of fun.

The Cranham Beast

The Cranham Beast 10k is the last of the 3 race trailmania series.  It took place on Sunday 22nd July  and on one of the hilliest but beautiful parts of the Cotswolds.  This race was not for the feint hearted but did give the runners to explore the famous Cheese Rollers Hill (Coopers Hill) and visit the villages of Sheepscombe, Witcombe, Birdlip and Cranham.

Teresa Hazlewood (with a slight detour) 1:10:23 and Cheri Edwards 1:12 not only completed the course but Cheri came first lady runner in the series followed closely by Teresa in second place.  Great effort.

Bath Relish 10k Trail Race   

The Bath 10k trail race is a 2 lap course which stays on the hill tops offering great views of Bath from the iconic Sham Castle as well as Little Solsbury Hill and Bannerdown Hill.  There is a mix of terrain including open meadows, single track way and winding forest trails.

Jenny Hoffman was first in for RSE in 1:15 followed by Kate Potter in 1:15.  Well done both of you.

Cirencester Park Run

Jon Collins – 24:32 – PB

George Rackley – 29:14

Cathy Steer – 30:00

Amanda Haines – 31:12

Jane O’Dell – 33:28

Charley Trykush – 35:26

Amanda MCilroy – 35:32

Swindon Park Run

Martyn Joyce – 29:06

Andover Park Run

Kay Thompson – 37:29

Mentioned in Dispatches

One of the rules in my imaginary rule book for Mentioned in Dispatches is that I do not nominate the same person in consecutive weeks.  Being a stickler for imaginary rules I will stick with that rule.  Therefore the person mentioned in dispatches this week will remain unnamed. Most people who undertake a gruelling 100k event will spend at least the next week relaxing and at best will go out for a couple of easy short runs.  Not this person.

Not only did this runner (you will notice how I am keeping it gender neutral to make it harder to identify them) run competitively in both in the Gloucester 5k race and the Bourton 1 mile challenge, they also reccee’d a number of routes for the RSE away day event on Monday.  This person needs a holiday, maybe a 4 day break in Sydney in September where they could run a marathon?

There are also a number of other people that need mentioning this week.  They include;

Cheri Edwards and Teresa Hazlewood for coming first and second ladies in the Trailmania 3 race series.

Sharon Smith, Sandie Wood, Elaine Chapman and Mark Manly for getting medals in the Gloucester AAA County Race (Gloucester 5k).

Rosie Oates for what has been described as a really impressive, strong and speedy performance in the Bourton 1 mile challenge.

Finally to Gareth Roberts for completing his first run on what will hopefully be a short road to recovery.